Page 29 of Holiday Tides

“You’ll see.” I send a flirty wink instead, something I’d have done before while teasing her.

Fortunately, the gesture has the same effect it did years ago, wrinkling Summer’s nose.

I cross to the piano tucked against the staircase, grinning at party goers as I pass. “As you all know, Jane is the musician extraordinaire and an incredible piano teacher who you should all send your kids to. She also takes on hapless, lost causes like—”

“We get it. You’re a talentless hack. She indulges your Christmas carol fantasies. Play ‘Jingle Bells’ before my brain explodes.”

My arm extends toward Aldon with a jester’s smile. “Your host, Santa Claus, ladies and gentlemen. What a joy to behold.”

Jane stops Aldon’s step forward with a hand to his chest as the room titters.

“A reminder that I’m still learning, and I’m only playing if everyone sings along,” I add, sitting on the piano bench and glancing at the music Jane set out for me.

After two years of lessons with Jane, I should be able to get through this ditty’s beginner arrangement without errors.

Probably.

Once I finish the short intro, I glance around the room to encourage everyone to join me in the lyrics. The jubilant grin on Summer’s face as she sings along is just the encouragement I need to banish the bout of stage fright making my fingertips tremble. As my friends continue to sing with me, warmth ribbons through my ribs. Some of them are butchering the notes, and I’ve hit a few incorrect keys, but it only makes the whole experience more perfect—so much better than I imagined. By the end of the song, everyone is smiling, laughing, or both. Even the corner of Aldon’s mouth tips up before he slams it back down to start the White Elephant exchange.

I end up with an unsettling yet hilarious ornament of Nicholas Cage’s face blended into a ceramic circle that matches his skin tone. Summer fights for and wins a cast-iron skillet ornament with a bacon and eggs happy face.

“Sorry I stole this,” she says to Ruby, Don’s wife.

“No, you’re not.” She snickers, her long salt-and-pepper plait coming over the shoulder of her black leather jacket.

Summer beams. “You’re right. I’m not. Sorry for not being—” She rolls her hand. “You get it.”

Before the house completely empties, Ezra corners us. “Hey, a bunch of us are heading to Bayside Table for Christmas Karaoke. You in?”

Normally, this party would end around midnight, but being as our hosts are new parents and have been yawning throughout the gift exchange, the guests uniformly began dissipating a little after nine. I hesitate because I usually help Aldon and Jane pick up after everyone leaves.

“He’d love to,” Jane replies for me, hand falling heavy on my shoulder.

I open my mouth to argue, but she gives me mom eyes—you know, the ones where they get threateningly wide before returning to normal, during which you swear your soul leavesyour body. Then Jane imperceptibly tilts her head in Summer’s direction. My chin dips in silent thanks before I turn to Ezra, making a mental note to come back and wash dishes tomorrow morning.

“We’ll be there,” I say before realizing there’s no ‘we.’

As much as I’d love there to be a ‘we,’ Summer has been very clear that she’s in a relationship. I really,reallyneed to stop finding reasons to touch her—something I’ve failed at tonight. I should keep us out of ‘we’ situations altogether, but…it’s Christmas Karaoke. It’s always such a blast, and we’ll be going as a group, so maybe I can keep my antsy hands to myself.

“I mean, Summer, would you like to…uh, sing with everyone? Somewhere else? Because we already sang here.” An awkward laugh comes out of my mouth before I cross my arms, uncross them, and put my hands in my pockets.

The corner of her mouth slowly drifts up at the same time Ezra coughs, “Real smooth,” into his fist.

The desire to save face is a monstrous, unbearable force. I set my lips into a smirk and add, “As friends,” to take the desperation out of my invitation.

A storm cloud passes over Summer’s blue eyes before she pivots to fully face my coworker, slipping her hand through his arm. “I’d love to come with you,Ezra.”

Summer doesn’t spare me a passing glance as she yanks a confused Ezra toward the front door. I might as well be sawdust beneath her black, pencil-heeled booties.

“Oh, she’s ticked now,” Jane mutters. “I wouldn’t have dropped the f-bomb.”

“But that’s all we can be. Friends. Summer has a boyfriend.” My throat works as they exit, frustration like an ever-expanding balloon in my chest. Shouldn’t Summer be happy that I reinforced her boundary?

Jane makes a sympathetic sound, but Aldon simply shoves both of our coats into my hands. “Fix it outside. I’m going to bed.”

My head drops with a harsh exhale before I jog after them.

eighteen

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